Will McClay

[KingintheNorth]

We did a good job this year in FA. Much better than only the bargain bin stuff of prior years. Austin was a decent pick up. So was Woods. Sua FILO has been a great find as well.

Woods was picked up when the Titans cut him off their 90-man roster, Sua'ilo was also picked up after 53-man rosters were set.

I do like the Austin trade; wish we'd make more moves like that.

He also signed Kony Ealy who didn't make the 53-man, and traded for Jihad Ward who didn't make the team. Last year's unrestricted free agency class didn't even make it to mid-season.

 

[Verdict]

Woods was picked up when the Titans cut him off their 90-man roster, Sua'ilo was also picked up after 53-man rosters were set.

I do like the Austin trade; wish we'd make more moves like that.

He also signed Kony Ealy who didn't make the 53-man, and traded for Jihad Ward who didn't make the team. Last year's unrestricted free agency class didn't even make it to mid-season.

Are you saying they don't count because of when they were picked up?

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

If we moved on from Garrett and hired a HC who contractually demands player personnel control, McClay should be the Director of College Scouting. He's fairly decent at signing guys mid-season, waiver-wire type guys, but he has been awful in off-season free agency, awful...

What long-term FA has he signed to a significant deal that's been crap?

Jihad Ward doesn't qualify as that. Kony Ealy was a low-risk one year deal...little gauranteed money.

I'd say Hurns is the closest thing to being a bad signing and he's still on the team. He's also one of our receiving leaders.

 

[Verdict]

What long-term FA has he signed to significant deal that's been crap?

Jihad Ward doesn't qualify as that.

It's hard to criticize the bargain bin (pick any player for a dollar pick ups) guys that we have taken a flier on. About the only thing I can fault them for was paying the Eagles DB that sucked a little bit too much money in free agency. Other than that it's hard to put too much criticism on the organization as a whole.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Are you saying they don't count because of when they were picked up?

I'm saying that it's not really fair to say he isn't good at assessing pro players, because he seems to do a good job of in-season pick-up's, However, his off-season signings have been much more misses than hits.

David Irving was a find. Guys like Nolan Carroll, Kony Ealy, Jihad Ward, Cedric Thornton, Benson Mayowa, Damontre Moore, etc. not so much.

The other issue is that the dynamics of the Cowboys Front Office is kind of muddy..Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, Will McClay, Judd Garrett. It's kind of hard for outsiders to pin down who makes what decisions.

 

[Rajveer]

Yes because "building the right way" means being .500 for 20 years

Maybe we should try and build it "the wrong way" so we can win a SB or 2, you know, like NE, Philly, NO, Pittsburgh, Giants etc?

Here is to "building a team the wrong way"

Does not matter if you build it the right way or the wrong way, unless you have Garrett and Linehan, we aint going no where.

 

[blueblood70]

For as good as he has been in the draft and getting us some really good talent he has been equally as bad signing free agents. I understand that he has had limited cap to work with and in the process he has set us up better financially but over the past 4-5 years he has had a ton of whiffs in free agency. Here is to hoping he could get some key additions this offseason and please, please stop with the bargain bin. It doesn't work here. We need some big time players. We need playmakers.

maybe no BIG Banger FAs that are high risk but we have depth this season at Oline like Xavier S. and Looney that are paying off, Antwan Woods DL, not bad at all, Joe Thomas at Lb pretty good depth, I realize Hurns is under performing a bit but not a total turd, so yes no super star contracts we offered Watkins a deal, he turned it down we cut dez, found out we made a mistake and got Amari//im pretty sure Amari Trade is like a FA signing.. I watched all the hubbub at the Rams etc all those big names on Defense they grabbed, some now are hurt others way under performing, they are giving up a ton of yards..remember the 200mil NYG spent on FA Defenders that worked maybe a year and now look..Hows Cousins and Alex smith doing now ? weren't those big off season signings? Cousins isn't dragging the Vikings to a SB , is he?

Most FA big splash additions dont pay off..show me the ones that are making huge impacts for new teams the last few seasons?

 

[KingintheNorth]

Jihad Ward doesn't qualify as that

if trading for Austin is considered a good move, wouldn't trading for Ward who didn't make the opening day roster qualify as not so good?

Both were low risk trades but if he deserves credit for the one that worked, he deserves criticism for the one that didn't.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

if trading for Austin is considered a good move, wouldn't trading for Ward who didn't make the opening day roster qualify as not so good?

Both were low risk trades but if he deserves credit for the one that worked, he deserves criticism for the one that didn't.

It's all in the context of how the player was aquired or what was given up (e.g. large contract, draft picks, et cetera).

In this case, we traded out a marginal player (Switzer) for another team's disappointment (Ward). Actually, looking at it realistically the team came out on top at the time because they got something back for a player they were likely going to cut.

Of course, McClay could be legitimately criticized for drafting Switzer in the first place. Though it should be noted nobody bats anywhere close to 1000.

 

[conner01]

We did a good job this year in FA. Much better than only the bargain bin stuff of prior years. Austin was a decent pick up. So was Woods. Sua FILO has been a great find as well.

Fleming too
A solid bunch there
If Austin can get healthy with Cooper on the field he could be awsome

 

[Bullflop]

McClay isn't the GM to go sign people - have you ever heard the words "Will McClay makes a deal for ___________" - no, it is "(insert appropriate first name) Jones trades our first rounder for ______________" ; not sure what Will could do if he was truly the GM with the power to make moves; we may not find out until he is grabbed up by another franchise

As long as our FO pays him generously, like a GM who gets recognition in name, obviously, he doesn't mind.

It just takes someone who doesn't foster an overinflated ego to be satisfied with such a situation. It's all good!

It's a well known fact that Will McClay has turned down several offers from other franchises in previous years.

 

[Pants]

As long as our FO pays him generously, like a GM who gets recognition in name, obviously, he doesn't mind.

It just takes someone who doesn't foster an overinflated ego to be satisfied with such a situation. It's all good!

It's a well-known fact that Will McClay has turned down several offers from other franchises in the past years.

I agree with that, and being able to be submissive to the Jones family is a huge trait that Will has...I hope he never leaves, I could just see other teams that are forward-thinking realizing that Will does the drafts and want to give him the shot as full-time GM because of his draft success in Dallas

 

[Bullflop]

I agree with that, and being able to be submissive to the Jones family is a huge trait that Will has...I hope he never leaves, I could just see other teams that are forward-thinking realizing that Will does the drafts and want to give him the shot as full-time GM because of his draft success in Dallas

He likely realizes that those outside of the Cowboys' organization don't really care whose name is attached with various deals that are signed. I'm certain it means a lot to Jerry to be given credit for such transactions. After all, he was often said to be covetous of Jimmy Johnson getting such credit.

 

[xwalker]

For as good as he has been in the draft and getting us some really good talent he has been equally as bad signing free agents. I understand that he has had limited cap to work with and in the process he has set us up better financially but over the past 4-5 years he has had a ton of whiffs in free agency. Here is to hoping he could get some key additions this offseason and please, please stop with the bargain bin. It doesn't work here. We need some big time players. We need playmakers.

Lets move Fleming from unknown to quality signing.

 

[Clove]

You can sign all the players you want, won't matter until you get this coaching staff rock solid and moving on all cylinders. If you're going to keep Garrett, you must change coordinators until you find the right mix.

 

[cern]

we haven't engaged in the free agency game due to lack of funds. we finally have cap space, but need to resign Lawrence, Beasley, and very shortly cooper, Byron jones, zeke and dak. player salaries are increasing at a faster rate than the salary cap. I think one of the reasons we're seeing noah brown and lance lenoir is we'll be parting ways with guys like hurns and tavon Austin to save money. just hope we keep hitting on our drafts. lve,, Williams and gallup have all contributed well so far this year. mcclay/Stephen have their work cut out for themselves.

 

[xwalker]

It's all in the context of how the player was aquired or what was given up (e.g. large contract, draft picks, et cetera).

In this case, we traded out a marginal player (Switzer) for another team's disappointment (Ward). Actually, looking at it realistically the team came out on top at the time because they got something back for a player they were likely going to cut.

Of course, McClay could be legitimately criticized for drafting Switzer in the first place. Though it should be noted nobody bats anywhere close to 1000.

I think a list of all free agents signings over the past few years actually looks quite good when contracts are considered.

They found many solid contributors like Su-Filo this year and Jonathan Cooper last year.

Hurns is a bit of a disappointment but I wouldn't call him a fail. It was obvious he was signed as a stopgap for 6M per season and they can cut after this season without paying much more than the 6M.

The two primary fails were the DT Thorton an the CB Nolan Carroll. Both were weird results. Carroll played well in the 1st game that season but was a disaster in 1 half of game 2 before being out with a concussion. Thorton just didn't play like he did in Philly. He appeared to lose a significant amount of weight between leaving Philly and the start of training camp with the Cowboys.

Carroll cost them about 3M for 1.5 games and Thorton cost 6.25M for 1 season.